Edition 1 - 2024 - Shropshire
October was a very busy month for us with our HYB section performing way above expectations at the ABAB which was back at Stoneleigh Park this year. Our team led by Brent and Anne Crothers with Phil and Jane Arrell represented the Club exceptionally well. We are very proud of all of our HYB members, in particular of past leading Senior HYB member of our Club was James Doherty who was the Showmanship Judge at this year’s show and did an excellent job.
Mid October saw 47 senior members travel to the South East on our Study Tour which included visits to some outstanding herds starting with a great visit with John Torrance with his parents Robert and Linda and his wife Lucy at Curtismill Holsteins. Here they produce oceans of milk with emphasis on cow comfort and herd health and great attention to detail.
They produce over 13,500 litres and calve heifers at 22 months with over 700 cows milked three times a day. They won the NMR/RABDF Silver award for the highest herd average of total solids produced in 2020 as well as the Gold Cup, and then won the 2022 Chris May Memorial Trophy for the highest average life-time yield. An outstanding herd of great cows.
We then moved on to visit John Downing and family at Wintersell Holsteins.
Grandparents founded this herd in 1919, this is one of the oldest registered herds in the UK.
Gold Cup finalists in 2020 milking 520 cows and 290 followers with 135 cows classified EX and 200 graded VG including 32 VG 2-year-olds. The herd sits in the top 5% for PLI nationally.
Investments include a Buitelaar High Health Calf unit and new youngstock housing unit as well as a massive investment in a new slurry handling system and 215 solar panels.
As a diversification project they are also developing some business lettings in some older buildings on the farm.
Day two started with a visit to Joseph Ives at Gladwake Holsteins which was established in 1959. This family run herd milk 240 cows with Lely Robots producing 13,800 litres and again a high health status herd with very high solids. They have diversified with some business units being developed and as with all our visits we saw great attention to detail with focus on cow comfort and health as well as great staff management and involvement.
Following lunch we visited the Gue Family at Huddlestone Holsteins, established in 1987 by Tim and Marion and now includes 6 farms covering 1400 acres in Sussex including another 650 acre unit also in Sussex. They have three sons who have studied and worked away from home and are now all back and involved within the business. They have adopted the robotic milking system and milk 450 with 8 Lely A5 robots along with a Lely Discovery and 3 Lely Collectors. The herd is currently number 2 PLI herd in the UK and the third highest heifer in the UK.
Day three saw us call in at Mark Wood’s Portway Holsteins at Buckingham. They milk 330 Holsteins and are currently transitioning into milking with Robots and aiming for 14,000 litres. They have achieved a calving index of 385 days and a pregnancy rate of 31%. The farm runs to 1400 acres with 700 down to Wheat and Barley with a further 300 acres for Maize. Using a multi cut system they make excellent silage and the breeding is focussed on PLI and are presently ranked within the top 15 herds in the country.
Travelled home from here after a tremendous tour with very generous hosts and the best examples of efficient and progressive businesses with outstanding cows, demonstrating huge production with great type and very high health statuses together with excellent management skills.
Our Winter programme of events started with a presentation by Graham Kirby with some very amusing tales and stories of his life growing up and getting into cows including his punk stage before testing us with a quiz which was very amusing and enjoyed by all.
Ben Williams from Glanbia Cheese Ltd gave us a talk on the 6th November explaining the pressures that the buyers are putting on producers like Glanbia, in his very forthright way and left all of his audience in no doubt how powerful and demanding end users are, particularly in relation to soya and where it is sourced from and the impact that it has on the dairy business.
December 4th was the date for our AGM at which Brent Crothers was elected Chairman following Ed Seaton’s excellent previous two years and Katherine Gould being elected President after the two-year term of Chris and Grace Brown. Ed Seaton’s final presentation before retiring from the role as our Chairman was to present Holstein UK Club Certificates with Pins and Ties, to Phil Jackson and David Gadd in recognition of continued work and support with all the club activities throughout the year. The meeting was followed by a presentation by Michael Halliwell. Michael has had a long association with Shropshire and he regaled us with his experiences and involvement with cows around the world before joining Holstein UK.
Finally Father Christmas joined us at the Children’s party on the 17th December which was arranged by Jane Arrell and her elves who had a great time and we hope that you all enjoyed your Christmas celebrations with family and friends and that 2024 is a healthy, happy year for everyone.
